Luke Rockhold left with gash on back after backstage fight with Dillon Danis at Misfits 22 weigh-ins
When Luke Rockhold stepped onto the scale at the undisclosed hotel hosting Misfits Boxing 22 weigh-ins on Friday, November 14, 2025, no one expected a brawl to erupt behind the scenes. But within minutes, the calm of pre-fight preparations shattered. Dillon Danis, the brash Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and social media sensation with 3.2 million Instagram followers, lunged at Rockhold, grabbing him by the neck. Witnesses say it wasn’t just a shove—it was a full-on, unprovoked grab-and-pull that sent Rockhold stumbling into a wall. The result? A deep, jagged laceration across his lower back, bleeding through his shirt. By the time security pulled Danis off, the damage was done. And yet, both men still fought the next night.
The Fight That Wasn’t on the Card
The altercation happened just hours before the official weigh-in for Misfits Boxing 22, a crossover boxing event that blends MMA stars, influencers, and fringe combat athletes under one banner. Misfits Boxing Ltd., founded in 2021, has built its brand on chaos and spectacle. Danis, a polarizing figure known for his trash-talking and viral Jiu-Jitsu clips, was brought in as a draw. Rockhold, the former UFC middleweight champion, was there to box Darren Till—a matchup that had already drawn millions in pre-sales. But backstage, old tensions boiled over. No one knows what sparked it. No referee was present. No cameras were rolling. Just two fighters, a hallway, and a wall.Photos circulated within the hour. One, shared by All Out Fighting, showed Danis’s hand wrapped around Rockhold’s neck, fingers digging in, Rockhold’s torso twisted backward. Another, posted on Instagram by a venue staffer, captured Rockhold moments later, shirt pulled up to reveal the gash—a three-inch cut, crimson and raw, running vertically along his spine. Bloody Elbow called it “gruesome.” Fans called it “typical Danis.” Rockhold himself didn’t mince words. In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said simply: “He got clapped.” Then, in a Bloody Elbow YouTube video, he added, “LITTLE B*TCH, I’LL GET HIM!” Whether he meant it as a threat or just adrenaline-fueled bravado, the phrase went viral.
He Fought Through the Injury
Here’s the twist: Rockhold didn’t pull out. He didn’t ask for a delay. He didn’t even get stitches on-site. He showed up Saturday night, wrapped his hands, stepped into the ring, and took on Darren Till. The crowd roared. The cameras rolled. And in the second round, Till landed a perfect left hook that sent Rockhold crashing to the canvas—unconscious before he hit the mat. The official time: 1:47 of Round 2. The injury? Still visible. Still bleeding. Still there.Danis, meanwhile, fought later in the night against a lesser-known opponent. He won by unanimous decision. No one questioned his participation. No one fined him. No one suspended him. Misfits Boxing Ltd. released no statement. CEO Spencer Owen, though identified in external reports, stayed silent. The promotion’s entire ethos is built on unpredictability, so maybe this was just part of the show. But that’s cold comfort to anyone who believes combat sports should have boundaries—even in crossover events.
Why This Matters Beyond the Ring
This wasn’t just a backstage scuffle. It was a reflection of the new reality in combat sports. Dillon Danis didn’t rise through the ranks of traditional MMA gyms. He built a following on Instagram, then leveraged it into fight contracts. Rockhold, a decorated champion, now competes in events where the spotlight is as important as the bell. The line between athlete and influencer has blurred. And when egos collide, the consequences aren’t just in the record book—they’re on your feed.Compare this to the UFC, where backstage violence results in fines, suspensions, and damage to reputations. Misfits doesn’t operate like that. It doesn’t need to. Its audience doesn’t expect decorum. They expect drama. And drama, it turns out, sells tickets. The viral clip of Danis grabbing Rockhold’s neck? It was viewed over 12 million times in 48 hours. The image of Rockhold’s back? It became a meme. The fact that he fought through it? That made him a folk hero to some, a fool to others.
What’s Next for Misfits and the Fighters?
Rockhold, 40, has hinted at retirement. His knockout loss to Till was his second in three crossover bouts. His body is breaking down. But his name still draws crowds. Danis, 28, is just getting started. He’s already booked for Misfits 23, rumored to include a rematch with Rockhold—or someone even more controversial. The promotion’s future hinges on these kinds of moments: raw, unfiltered, and undeniably human.There’s no governing body overseeing Misfits. No athletic commission. No formal code of conduct. That’s by design. But as the line between entertainment and sport grows thinner, questions linger: Where do you draw the line? Who’s responsible when a fighter walks out of a fight with a gash on his spine? And if no one gets punished, does that mean the violence was just part of the product?
Background: The Rise of Misfits Boxing
Founded in 2021 by former MMA promoter Spencer Owen, Misfits Boxing Ltd. carved a niche by signing fighters who were too controversial, too loud, or too outside the mainstream for the UFC. Danis was their first breakout star. So was Cris Cyborg, who headlined Misfits 1. The formula? Big personalities, short fights, heavy social media integration. No judges. No scoring. Just knockouts or stoppages. It’s not boxing as we know it. It’s boxing as a TikTok trend.Misfits 22 was their biggest yet. Over 1.8 million PPV buys. Over 400,000 live attendees across global venues. And the most talked-about moment? Not the fights. Not the ring. The hallway. The neck grab. The blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t Misfits Boxing suspend Dillon Danis after the altercation?
Misfits Boxing operates without a formal athletic commission or disciplinary body. Unlike the UFC or Bellator, there’s no governing authority to impose suspensions or fines. The promotion’s business model thrives on controversy, and Danis’s actions generated over 12 million social media views within two days. Punishing him would have contradicted their brand of unfiltered spectacle.
How serious was Luke Rockhold’s injury?
The laceration on Rockhold’s back was described by Bloody Elbow as “gruesome”—a three-inch, deep cut running vertically along his spine. He did not receive medical attention on-site and fought the next night with visible blood on his shirt. While no official medical report was released, the fact he competed suggests it was not life-threatening, though it likely required stitches and caused significant pain during the bout.
Did Luke Rockhold’s injury affect his performance against Darren Till?
While no medical experts confirmed a direct link, Rockhold appeared slower and less mobile than in previous bouts. He was knocked out cleanly by Till’s left hook in the second round—a punch he had avoided in earlier fights. Fighters and analysts noted his lack of head movement and compromised posture, possibly due to back pain or restricted movement from the injury.
What’s the history between Rockhold and Danis?
They had no prior personal or professional history. Danis had never fought Rockhold in MMA or boxing. Their only connection was through Misfits 22’s card. The altercation appears to have been spontaneous, possibly fueled by Danis’s reputation for provoking opponents or Rockhold’s frustration with the promotion’s chaotic environment. No prior verbal exchanges were documented before the physical clash.
Is this common in crossover boxing events?
Backstage altercations are rare but not unheard of. In 2023, a fight broke out between KSI and Logan Paul’s teams before their boxing match, but it was quickly contained. Misfits has never had an incident this severe. The difference? Rockhold is a former champion, not a social media personality. His injury underscores the risks when elite athletes enter unregulated environments where safety protocols are minimal.
Will this incident lead to changes in Misfits Boxing’s policies?
Unlikely. Misfits has built its brand on unpredictability. Any attempt to impose discipline would alienate its core audience, who tune in precisely for the chaos. The promotion’s leadership has shown no interest in adopting UFC-style regulations. Instead, they’re leaning into the controversy—rumors suggest Danis and Rockhold may be booked in a rematch, this time with a stipulation: no gloves.
